Chrysanthemum plant named White Splendor

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named White Splendor is provided. The new cultivar was the result of naturally occurring mutation of unknown causation and is characterized by the formation of attractive pure white ray florets which can be readily distinguished from the light lavender ray florets of the parent Splendor cultivar (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,225). The new cultivar is particularly suited for growing as a pot mum.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofDendranthema morifolium Ramat., and hereinafter is referred to by theWhite Splendor cultivar name.

The new cultivar is a mutation of unknown causation which was discoveredand carefully preserved during the course of plant selection work whichwas conducted by me. The new cultivar was discovered among plants ofSplendor cultivar (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,225) being grown under mydirect supervision at Los Osos, Calif., which formed blossoms having thecharacteristic light lavender ray floret coloration and a flat capitulumform of the daisy type.

More specifically, the selection of the new cultivar was made during thecourse of a mum production program conducted in greenhouses located atLos Osos, Calif. In such a program, cuttings of the Splendor cultivarwere rooted and converted into marketable potted mum plants while usingconventional plant growth techniques. On June 22, 1989, it was observedthat a portion of one stem on a single plant of the Splendor cultivarhaving five stems and growing in a 6 inch pot, exhibited one terminalblossom and one blossom below the terminal blossom having distinctivepure white ray florets. All other blossoms exhibited the light lavenderray floret coloration characteristic of the Splendor cultivar. On June23, 1989, the four stems which exhibited blossoms having exclusively thelight lavender coloration were removed, and the observation and study ofthe stem which exhibited blossoms having a pure white coloration wascontinued. On July 5, 1989, all blossoms were removed just below thecapitulum bases, and the plant was subjected to a long day treatment toencourage the development of new vegetative growth. On Sept. 5, 1989,two vegetative cuttings were removed from the plant and were each rootedin separate four inch pots. On Sept. 21, 1989, these two young plantswere subjected to a short day treatment. On Nov. 23, 1989, both of theseplants were in flower, and it was observed that one plant exhibitedexclusively blossoms having the light lavender ray floret colorationcharacteristic of the Splendor cultivar and one plant exhibitedexclusively blossoms having a pure white ray coloration of the new anddistinctive White Splendor cultivar of the present invention. On Dec. 5,1989, all blossoms on the plant of the White Splendor cultivar wereremoved below the capitulum bases and the plant was subjected to a longday treatment to encourage the development of new vegetative growth. OnMar. 1, 1990, eleven cuttings were taken from the resulting plant withfive cuttings being rooted in six-inch pots and six cuttings beingrotted in four-inch pots. On Mar. 19, 1990, all eleven plants werepinched and were subjected to a short day treatment. On May 10, 1990,the blossoms began to open on these plants. In all instances theblossoms exhibited the pure white floral rays characteristic of theWhite Splendor cultivar of the present invention. Also, allcharacteristics of the White Splendor other than floral ray colorationare believed to be substantially identical to those of the Splendorcultivar when grown under the same conditions. The new cultivar isparticularly well suited for growing as a pot mum.

This asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by cuttings, as performedat Los Osos, Calif., has demonstrated that the characteristics of thenew cultivar as herein disclosed are firmly fixed and are retainedthrough successive generations of asexual propagation.

White Splendor has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light, day length, contact with pesticides and/or subjection to growthretardant treatments. To date under the controlled conditions describedherein, the characteristics of the White Splendor cultivar, other thanfloral ray coloration, have in all instances been very similar to thoseof the Splendor cultivar. This combination of characteristics is capableof well distinguishing the new White Splendor cultivar from all otherknown Chrysanthemum cultivars.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this character,typical specimens of the plant and blossoms of the new cultivar. Theplants of the new variety were grown at Los Osos, Calif.

FIG. 1 illustrates a typical specimen of the overall plant of the newcultivar while growing in a 6.5 inch pot wherein the pure white rayflorets of the blossoms are apparent, and

FIG. 2 illustrates for comparative purposes the pure white ray floretsof the blossoms of the White Splendor cultivar at the top and the lightlavender ray florets of the parent Splendor cultivar (U.S. Plant Pat.No. 5,225) at the bottom while growing in 6.5 inch pots. In eachinstance the blossoms have a flat capitulum form and are of the daisycapitulum type.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The charts used in the identification of colors described hereafter areThe R.H.S. Colour Chart and the Panatone Color Chart. The color valueswere determined at 11:00 a.m. and at 12 noon under indirect lightconditions on June 6, 1990 at Lompoc, Calif.

Classification:

Botanical.--Dendranthema morifolium Ramat., cv. White Splendor.

Commercial.--Pot mum.

Inflorescence:

A. Capitulum:

Form.--Flat.

Type.--Daisy or single.

Diameter across face.--Approximately 12 to 13 cm. on average.

B. Corolla of ray florets:

Color (generally tonality from a distance of one meter).--Pure white.

Color (front).--Pure white, whiter than White Group 155D of The R.H.S.Colour Chart.

Color (back).--Pure white, whiter the White Group 155D of The R.H.S.Colour Chart.

C. Corolla of disc florets

Color (immature).--Greenish-yellow.

Color (mature).--Yellow, 396C of the Panatone Color Chart.

D. Reproductive organs

Androecium.--Stamens are included only in the corolla of the discflorets; pollen production is insignificant.

Gynoecium.--Superior, one-celled and basal.

Plant

A. General appearance:

Height.--Commonly varies between 7 to 30 cm. above the edge of the potdepending on the size of the pot and the growing conditions. The smallerheights commonly are associated with the use of smaller pot sizes.Typical growing conditions when using four-inch pots are two long-dayweeks before pinch and ligths out, and 1 to 3 applications of 2500 B-9growth regulator after lights out. Typical growing conditions when usingsix-inch pots are two long-day weeks before pinch, one long-day weekfollowing pinch and lights out, and 1 to 3 applications of 2500 B-9growth regulator after lights out.

B. Foliage:

Color (front).--Yellor-Green Group 147A of The R.H.S. Colour Chart, and553C of the Panatone Color Chart.

Color (back).--Green Group 137B of The R.H.S. Colour Chart, and 575U ofthe Panatone Color Chart.

Shape.--Simple, ovate with cuneate base.

Margin.--Moderately lobed and pinnately parted and crenate with anobtuse tip.

                  CHART A                                                         ______________________________________                                        COMPARISON OF TYPICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF                                      FINISHED PLANT                                                                               Splendor  White Splendor                                       ______________________________________                                        Diameter of Capitulum:                                                                         12 to 13.5 cm.                                                                            12 to 13 cm.                                     Diameter of Disc.                                                                              1.8 cm.     1.5 cm.                                          Thickness of Disc.                                                                             1.2 cm.     1.2 cm.                                          Average Number of Ray                                                                          37          37                                               Florets                                                                       Length of Ray Corolla                                                                          5.6 cm.     5.5 cm.                                          Width of Ray Corolla                                                                           1.4 cm.     1.2 cm.                                          Color of Ray Corolla                                                                           Light       Whiter than                                      (front and back) Lavender    White Group                                                                   155D of R.H.S.                                                                Colour Chart                                     Length of Disc Corolla                                                                         0.7 cm.     0.7 cm.                                          Color Disc Corolla (immature)                                                                  Green-Yellow                                                                              Green-Yellow                                     Color Disc Corolla (mature)                                                                    Yellow      Yellow                                           Number of Flowers Per Stem.                                                                    4.5         4.5                                              Color of Foliage (front)                                                                       Yellow-Green                                                                              Yellow-Green                                                      Group 147A of                                                                             Group 147A of                                                     R.H.S. Colour                                                                             R.H.S. Colour                                                     Chart       Chart                                            Color of Foliage (back)                                                                        Green Group Green Group                                                       137B of R.H.S.                                                                            137B of R.H.S.                                                    Colour Chart                                                                              Colour Chart                                     Length of Largest Leaf                                                                         13.5 cm.    11.5 cm.                                         Width of Largest Leaf                                                                          8.5 cm.     7.0 cm.                                          Flowering Respose Period                                                                       9 weeks     9 weeks                                          Treatment Required                                                                             Medium      Medium                                           ______________________________________                                    

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant namedWhite Splendor, substantially as herein shown and described, whichexhibits pure white ray florets in combination with othercharacteristics which are substantially identical to those of theSplendor cultivar (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,225).